Though Stephen hadn't even known his nephews and niece had existed for the early part of their lives, he now loved them unconditionally and fiercely. Seeing Lachlan struggling and Iain so clearly upset and hurt by it made his chest seize up.
"He's being honest with us now, and before he used. That's very good, Lachlan. You're doing very well. Before what hurt? Is someone harming you?" If Ciaran was somehow hurting Lachlan, they were all going to see a very different side of gentle, loving Uncle Stephen.
"No," Lachlan admitted quietly. "No, I- Being apart from him. It...hurts. I can't really explain it. But it feels like- It feels like dying. So I bought the heroin but I didn't use it. It was for just in case!"